New Year's Day at the Australia Zoo - Crikey!

We spent the first day of 2007 (a very hot day!) at the Australia Zoo, in Beerwah, about forty five minutes north of Brisbane. You've all heard of Steve Irwin - the Crocodile Hunter. Well, this is his zoo (started by his father), and we were very surprised and pleased to have had his wife, Terri, host the crocodile show - in the Crocoseum! - that day. Terri had just started hosting shows again since Steve's death in September of 2006 (that's not her in the picture). Her daughter Bindi was there as well!















When Steve Irwin's father started the zoo, it was basically an animal rescue facility. Now, it covers 72 hectares or land in Beerwah, and the plan is to expand to 315 hectares over the next 5 to 7 years. It is an amazing facility and if there is one message that clearly gets through while you are there, it is how to help protect all of these incredible creatures.

We learned a lot at the snake show - what to do when and if you encounter a dangerous snake - which is highly relevant to us. Ian has come across one on a bike ride home from work, and William crossed paths with a small one on a bush walk near a beach!

That's a wombat - William's favorite Australian animal.

After a very hot and long day at the zoo, we took a refreshing dip in the Barker's new pool....aaahhhhh! Then the adults ended the day with supper at the famous "Brekkie Creek" restaurant (that means "Breakfast Creek - the Aussies shorten or nickname everything....!).